Chương 2: Back to the past

"Astin Von Luggard, the crown princess of Great Britain, next in line to the throne with beautiful silver locks. Although her mother was the princess of Asia, her father was the crown prince. Their marriage brought about the first alliance of the two nations. But sadly, they died in a fatal accident when the princess was just six years old. Just yester-night, Fedrick Von Luggard, our present king and Princess Astin's grandfather, announced that in... '' Astin switched off the television.

She was still stuck in bewilderment. She stared blankly at the screen for a bit. It was unbelievable.

"Is this a dream?" She asked and pinched her cheek. The pain was real. "I... I'm alive? How is this possible?" She touched her forehead where Jude had shot her but there was nothing.

Then, a thought came to her and she checked the date only to discover she wasn't just alive but had gone four years back in time. This was definitely before her grandfather died, before she was crowned and before she married that psychotic madman.

She clenched her fists. If this was real then she would definitely not make the same mistakes as she did in her previous life. This time, she would live a completely different life.

Astin opened the doors to her dressing room. So many elegant and trendy dresses... But who cared? She walked in and picked a basic. Looking into the mirror, she found it suitable and smiled.

She opened her room doors, ready to go out and met ten maids at her disposal. That was how it was every single day. They were to all wait at her door since no one was allowed to enter her room without her giving the go ahead.

She looked from her right to her left and smiled. They were stunned. Whenever had they seen her smile? She never smiled at them. The only ones she smiled at were her grandfather, her cousins and of course, Jude.

Astin cleared her throat in an attempt to speak with elegance but she suddenly chuckled. The excitement of coming back to life and the past was just so overwhelming and it made her lose her stance. This behaviour of hers made the maids confused.

"Don't mind me." She laughed. "You guys go in to clean up." She said but the maids stood still with their legs frozen and glued to the floor.

Astin's gaze suddenly turned cold and she glared at them.

"Do I have to repeat myself?" She asked and in fright, they hurried towards the room.

By the way they scurried, Astin was compelled to ask herself.

'Was I too harsh?' she shook it off. 'Now, I have to stop Jude from getting his hands on 'him'.'

Meanwhile, down at the underground prison, Jude was busy trying to get the right criminal to do his bidding. He looked from one to the other and then his eyes fell on this criminal with a cold gaze and dangerous aura.

Jude smiled. Just the perfect guy for the dirty job.

"I've made up my mind." He said and snapped his fingers. "I want..."

"Band!" The doors flew open. "Sorry to interrupt." Came the voice of little innocent Astin.

Jude and the dungeon guards turned to see this glamorous and alluring princess with widened eyes.

"Princess, this place isn't suited for..." Jude's words were rudely interrupted by her as she walked towards him.

"I know, I know." She said and stared daggers.

Although she didn't make her hostility known, she was deeply irritated by his mere sight and presence.

"I just want to pick a guard servant." She announced.

"But you don't normally pick the guards by yourself." Jude pointed out.

"Why? Can't I do something out of the ordinary?" She asked and looked away. "I want to do it today and by myself. Do you have a problem with that?" She asked with a meaningful smile.

Jude couldn't tell what this was all about but he believed she was still deeply in love with him so anything that belonged to her would eventually become his.

"Very well." He bowed. "I'll guide you in the selection." He said but she raised her hand.

"No need." She said, "I already made my pick." Then, she pointed at the most dangerous looking man in the dungeon. "I chose that guy."

Hearing this, Jude immediately felt anxious. That was the man he wanted to pick and use as his weapon.

"Your highness, that man is a criminal." Jude accused. "He's a traitor."

"Oh, he is?" She asked, feigning surprise and Jude nodded with that thought that he had succeeded in swaying her decision. "But so what?" She suddenly asked, shocking him. She turned to the man. "Are you a traitor?"

The cold looking man did not dare raise his head but when he did, he saw a shining light and a brilliant personality in front of him but his eyes, he gave off a gaze with piercing daggers.

Astin looked into his eyes, past that threatening sight was a hint of guilt, plea and emptiness. It was like he was running away from himself but couldn't even run past his shadow.

He opened his mouth to speak.

"Yes." His chilling voice echoed in the room and Astin felt a sense of familiarity and smiled reminiscing on it.

It reminded her of the last words he said to her before he took his own life.

He had been sent to kill her but in the course of that, he gave up. He never hated the queen and never had the mind to kill her either. He admired her so much.

This woman that everyone respected, looked up to and loved, how could he kill her? He was under threat so he had to carry out this mission but seeing her smile before his gun, he knew he couldn't do it.

Even if the guilt of not saving his sister would do nothing to him, this would surely hunt him his entire life and even in death so he shot himself instead.

"Are you a traitor?" Queen Astin asked at that time. She looked so dazzling like a goddess of the sun and that was the last time he would see such a godly appearance.

He opened his mouth to speak and slowly muttered.

"Yes." With that, he shut his eyes.

Remembering it now, she could recall Jude's confession. He was the one who made him do it and threatened him with his sister's safety. He only agreed because of his sister and since he failed, Jude sent his sister to the harlot house and she was abused by different men. Not able to take the humiliation, she killed herself.

'Jude, Jude, Jude! You've done a lot of bad things, I will make you regret it.' she thought and subconsciously exclaimed. "Despicable!"

This made everyone think she was referring to the traitor and he shamelessly bowed his head. But then, she placed a hand on his head.

"What is your name?" She asked.

"Felix!" He answered with his head still bowed.

"Well Felix, do you swear to abide by the rules of the nation of Britain from this time forth?" She asked which took him aback. "Do you swear to stick to me, your princess, for the rest of your life and support her decisions no matter what?"

Felix was stunned.